THE DEMOLITION of a 19th century terrace of cottages in south Dublin will begin this morning to make way for the Monkstown ring road.
Nearby residents received a notice from Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council last week informing them of the “emergency demolition” of 16 vacant houses at Yankee Terrace, Roseville Terrace and at Annavilla Avenue, off Newtownpark Avenue.
Concerns over anti-social behaviour and health and safety in the cottages are the reasons the council has given for beginning the emergency demolition.
The council bought the houses by compulsory purchase order following the approval of the road by An Bord Pleanála in 2006. The 1.2km road will link the Stradbrook area of Blackrock to Stillorgan Park.
The demolition is much sooner than expected, but was inevitable once the plans for the ring road were passed, Blackrock Fianna Fáil councillor Barry Conway said.
“It is sad to see something that is part of local history being demolished,” he added.
Blackrock Green Party councillor Nessa Childers said: “It will be unpleasant and unfortunate to see them going. They should have been left intact in the first place and the road shouldn’t be there,” she said.
The road will cut through two communities in Fleurville and Rowanville, she said.
Caroline Liddy, a former resident of the Annavilla cottages who moved out last October after 25 years, said she was “a bit shocked” at the speed of the demolition.
“It is hard enough leaving home, but knowing it is going to be flattened is more difficult, she said.
